Twenty Years Later: Jimmy Buffett & Butch Trucks Guest With Phish

Twenty years ago tonight Phish welcomed special guests Jimmy Buffett and Butch Trucks to share the stage at the West Palm Beach Auditorium in West Palm Beach, Florida. Both sit-ins came towards the end of the band’s two-set performance at the 6,000-capacity indoor venue.

The guest spot action began at the end of the second set, when The Allman Brothers Band drummer emerged to lend a hand on “Possum.” Phish drummer Jon Fishman moved over to the mini drumkit guitarist Trey Anastasio was touring with at the time and even played trombone at one point. Trucks was seemingly unfamiliar with the song and started “Possum” at a faster tempo than Phish usually play it at. The foursome and their guest did connect when it came time for the guitar solo. Anastasio started his solo with a “One Way Out” tease to the delight of the audience. Watch fan-shot footage of Butch Trucks sitting in with Phish on “Possum”:

After Phish returned to the stage for their encore, Anastasio introduced local resident Jimmy Buffett. Jimmy handled lead vocals on what still stands as the only time Phish covered “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison. Buffett changed some of the lyrics to reference local attractions. Here’s fan-shot footage of Jimmy Buffett fronting Phish on “Brown Eyed Girl”: